Circular knitting machine for the production of partially reinforced hose goods and method therefor



y 6, 1965 E. HANEL 3,192,741

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 E WALD H'A'NEZ.

ATTORNEIS July 6, 1965 E. HIA'NEL 3,192,741

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 EWALD l-MWEL BY 3 D -w fi ATTORNEYS July 6, 1965 E. HA'NEL 3,192,741

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 :l.l l3 w Y INVENTOR WALD HAWB.

ATTORNEYS y 6, 1965 E. HANEL 3,192,741

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CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 fi h.

EWALD HAW/51.

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y 6, 1965 E. HKNEL 3,192,741

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR EWALD HA'NEL ATTORNEYS y 6, 1965 E. HJA'NEL 3,192,741 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR ,THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR sumo H/T/VEL ATTORNEYS J y 6, 1965 E. H'ANEL 3,192,741

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FoR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR FH JL EWALLHAZ 'L -FARR s July 6, 1965 E. HANEL 3,192,741

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 1O ,I i /////////////l//////////////// -I l IlIIlllllIIII/IlIIllIlIIIII/lllll E WALD HA'NEL BY Em whm fi ATTORN S E. HANEL 3,192,741 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY July 6, 1965 REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed June 2 IN VEN 1 OR EWALD HZNEL 75w ATTORNEY? y 6, 1965 E. HANEI. 3,192,741

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR EWALD H/T/VEL 731443144 la gwgpr ATTO 6' July 6, 1965 E. HANEL 3,192,741

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 15 EWALD HA'NEL ATTORNEYS July 6, 1965 A L 3,192,741

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSE GOODS AND METHOD THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Q, WWI/A ATTORN S United States Patent Ofilice 3,192,741 Patented July 6, 1965 CERCULAR KNITEING MAQIHNE FOR THE PR6- DUCTIQN 01F PARTEALLY REH'QFQRSED H9533. GGGDS AND METHGD 'ii-ZEREFQR Ewald Hiinei, Ingoistadt, Germany, assignor to Schnbert dz Saizer P/iaschinenfabrih Aktiengeseilschaft, Ingolstadt (Danube), Germany, a German corporation Fiied June 2, 1961, Ser. No. 114,513 Claims priority, appiication Germany, Aug. 19, 1969, 28,353 22 Ciaims. (Cl. 66-49) This invention relates to a method of circular knitting of partially reinforced seamless hose goods, particularly of fine hose with reinforced heel and toe, and perhaps reinforced sole, as well as the circular knitting machine serving to carry out this method.

This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending United tates patent application, Serial No. 852,915, filed November 13, 1959, now abandoned.

A production method of heeland toe-reinforcement with endless reinforcement thread by the so-called reciprocatory movements is well known. In this manner of operation the circular knitting machine executes a reciprocatory movement corresponding to the width of the reinforced part, which involves a decrease of the working speed as well as a constant reversal of the direction of iovement of the cam ring in machines with stationary cylinder, or of the cylinder in machines with revolving cylinder. In such cases the revolving cam ring or cylin der at its reversal position in each case must be braked to a standstill and then in the opposite direction again be accelerated to its working speed. This involves a great degree of pulsation in the power requirement of the machine as well as a decrease of the production because of the periodically decreased working speed.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, it has been proposed, to avoid the reciprocatory movements and to waste in knitting the reinforcement thread by revolving the cam system or cylinder constantly in one direction so that the reinforcement thread floats in the unreinforced part and hereupon is later cut oif at the reinforcement edges (compare U.S. Patent 2,709,353 and British Patent 756,941). This cutting off of the floated reinforcement threads requires an additional operation besides additional cutting devices, and means a material loss. Additionally, the cutting off of the floated reinforcement threads has as consequence short thread ends, which push-through from inside to the surface of the goods or, in the case of long thread ends, are visible through the fine knitted material.

The purpose of the invention is accordingly to circularly knit a seamless hose, if possible in the quality of a cotton hose, by means of latch needles or point needles, with endless reinforcement thread and to avoid the disadvantages of the hitherto known processes.

his objective is accomplished in accordance with the invention in the following manner:

The base thread as well as the reinforcement thread are first of all jointly knitted. Beginning at the endmargin of the reinforcement, the base thread is then alone knitted further, while the reinforcement thread is knitted back alone to the starting margin of the reinforcement, from where subsequently it forms a course with the base thread, so that in the reinforced part one course formed of base thread and reinforcement thread alternates with a course of the reinforcement thread alone. For this, two cam systems, one for the base thread and reinforcement thread, the other for the reinforcement thread only, operate with reference to the cylinder relative movements in opposite direction to one another, under constant maintenance of their direction of rotation and speed. In doing so it is immaterial whether the cylinder stands still or rotates. In machines with a stationar ,1 cylinder, the cam system for the base thread and reinforcement thread runs constantly and with constant speed in the one direction and the cam system for the reinforcement thread runs constantly and with the same speed in the opposite direction around the cylinder. In machines with revolving cylinder, the cam system for the base thread and reinforcement thread is stationary, whereas the cam system for the reinforcement thread re volves constantly and with constant speed, which corresponds to at least double the cylinder speed or a higher multiple of the cylinder speed, rotating in the same direction of rotation as the cylinder.

The new process offers the following advantages in comparison to the hitherto known ones:

The reinforcement thread is knitted without reciprocatory movements, and so, without reversal of the revolving cylinder or cam ring, at constant working speed. Cutting-off floated threads at the margins of the reinforcement part is eliminated. By endless knitting in of the reinforcement thread the further advantage is obtained as compared with hitherto known reciprocatory movements: Since in the reinforcement part alternates always one course knitted from the base thread and the reinforcement thread with one course knitted only from the reinforcement thread, and therefore in the reinforced part twice as many courses are knitted as in the unreiuforced part, the reinforced hose part becomes longer than the unreinforced part. Thus, heel and toe, perhaps also the sole, take on, while knitting at undiminished speed, a form which in previous circular knitting processes could only be obtained either after the knitting through stretching of the reinforced meshes in the sole part and shrinking of the meshes in the upper-foot-part by forming and plasticizing, or, during the knitting, through development of the heel by the retarded reciprocatory movements above referred to. In the previous customary forming process, in hose without wedge-heel the stitch pattern was distorted and warped. In the new process, the less elastic reinforced meshes are not stretched, but merely a slight shaping-out, without much strain of individual mesh rows, sufiices.

In the U.S. Patent 2,740,277 is described a circular knitting machine for the carrying out of a Wrap-stitch knitting method, in which the wrap-yarn first knitted in the same direction as the base thread, is alone knittedback by means of an auxiliary cam system revolving in opposite direction to the normal cam system, in order to produce through intermediary rows arched surfaces. However, with this described system only about needles, thus a comparatively small region, may in each case be supplied by the wrap-yarn guide, which is arranged in the nature of crank over the needles and carries out a movement completely independent of the revolving normal-or also auxiliary-cam-system.

The process in accordance with this invention and the circular knitting machine for the carrying out of this process differs from this known device in that a tubular article is produced for the production of a seamless hose, in which a reinforcement thread is, as distinguished from the known wrap-stitch knitting method, used up in knitting over approximately one half or more of the cylinder circumference. The reinforcement thread guide revolves with a second revolving cam system, during the knitting of the course formed alone from the reinforcement thread, over the region of the reinforcement section.

Thus, it is possible to knit a seamless hose in continuous rotation, but simultaneously to give this hose a partial shaping in the foot part and to avoid the cutting-off of the reinforcement thread at the margins of the reinforcement, without it being necessary to cut apart and sew 3 the hose after completed knitting, as is described in the process of US. Patent 2,740,277.

Further details of the process in accordance with the invention and the circular knitting machines for carrying it out, are described in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings are:

FIG. 1, a schematic representation of the total arrangement in perspective lateral view;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic representations of the successive movements between cam systems and cylinders, in top view;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a hose with reinforced foot as produced by the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the build-up of the base--and reinforcement-rows;

FIG. 6 shows as a form of circular knitting machine constructed in accordance with the invention, in longitudinal sect-ion;

FIGS. 7, 7a and 7b show in a developed view of the camrsystems and of the needle rim seen from the inside, the various working phases of t re process in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are pictures of meshes, which show the linkage in the reinforced part;

' FIG. 10 shows in perspective a detail from FIG. 6 the arrangement of the thread guide for the reinforcement thread;

FIGS.-11 and .12 show the manner of working of the sinker cam in conformity with the FIGS. 7:: and 7;

FIG. 13 shows the sinker cam in cut-out in its position during the knitting of the unreinforced hose parts;

FIG. 14 shows in longitudinal section the upper part of a circular knitting machine as in FIG. 6, however in modified form;

, FIG. 15 shows in vertical section the revolving cam system for the reinforcement thread in enlarged representation;

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view of the sinker cam during the disengaging of the revolving sinker cam in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged representation from FIG. 16 with (disengaged) sinker cam for the reinforcement thread;

FIG. 18 shows a similar representation as in FIG. 16, however during the reengagement of the revolving sinker cam for the reinforcement thread;

FIG.-19 shows an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 shows in perspective the control device for the switching-oft and switching-on of the revolving sinker cam;

FIG. 21 shows in section the drive of the thread guide for the reinforcement thread in enlarged representation in accordance with FIG. 14;

FIG. 22 shows the device in vertical section positioned above the cylinder and the dial disc, for the supply of the reinforcement thread to the periodically revolving reinforcement guide;

FIG. 23 (which is on the sheet bearing FIG. 7) is a side view of a needle and its actuating jack;

FIG. 24 (which is on the sheet bearing FIG. 7a) is a side View of a form of needle with a pair of butts, and an actuating jack with numerous butts; and

FIG. 25 (which is on the sheet bearing FIG. 7b) is a side view of a needle and its actuating jack.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 3, 6 and 7, there is shown a circular knitting machine with rotating needle cylinder, individually actuated latch needles, dial disc, sinkers and transfer jacks.

In FIG. 1 is shown the needle-cylinder Z of the circular knitting machine in accordance with the invention schematically with the arrangement and movement of the cam systemsI and II. The cylinder Z is adapted to revolve at uniform speed in the direction of the arrow P. In longitudinal grooves 2' of the cylinder Z are slidably seated the latch needles 2 which obtain their knitting movement by needle butts 3' and 3" through the two cam systems I and II respectively positioned at levels one above the other. The upper cam system I is stationary. The lower cam system II is positioned on a cam ring revolving around the cylinder. The stationary cam system I operates needles 2 by the needle butts 3 and serves for the knitting of the base thread G in the direction of the arrow P over the entire cylinder-circumference and, in addition, serves for the knitting of the reinforcement thread S in the direction of the arrow P over the sector AB of needle-cylinder Z, which corresponds to the maximal width of the reinforced hose part in the heel, sole or toe. It should be noted that at only those needles lying in sector A-B are both butts 3' and 3". The remaining needles have only butts 3'. Cam system II revolves in the direction of turning P of the cylinder Z with uniform speed which may be designated v wherein this corresponds to at least the double or a multiple of cylinder speed 1 Cam system II operates only those needles 2 which have needle butts 3". These needles which have butts 3' and butts 3", are positioned over the sector A-B of the needle-cylinder Z for the knitting of the reinforced hose-part.

The movement of the cylinder Z and of the revolving cam system II with respect to the stationary cam system I (whose velocity v =0) is represented in FIG. 3 schematically in top view. There is indicated for the cylinder Z a speed v the cam system I the speed v :0, i.e., the cam system I is stationary, and the cam system II the speed v =2v or also 3V2, 4v

The base thread guide G, assigned to the stationary cam system I, is likewise stationary and rigidly connected with the cam system I. The reinforcement thread guide S, assigned to the cam system II, works as trailing thread guide alternately together with the cam system I and the cam system II. Thus, base thread G (FIG. 1) and reinforcement thread S are first jointly knitted from A to B in the direction P During this operation the reinforced thread guide S is stationed in a fixed position adjacent the base thread guide G. At the end margin B of the reinforcement, the reinforcement-thread remains at the margin needle; and, for a moment, reinforced thread is drawn from its spool (FIG. 22) without any knitting thereof. This drawing out without knitting continues only until the cam system II overtakes the reinforcement thread guide, whereupon, as is later described in detail, the reinforcement thread guide is released from its fixed position and moves with the cam system II. During this lastmentioned movement the course of reinforcement thread alone is knit. Thus, while the base thread G is alone knitted by means of the cam system I in the unreinforced hose part corresponding to the remaining cylinder-circumference from B to A in the direction P the reinforcement-th'read alone'is'worked-back by means of the cam system II in the opposite direction (arrow P) to the starting margin A of the reinforcement. Then from point A is again knitted by cam system I a course consisting of a baseand a reinforcement-thread in the direction P to B. Through repetition of these operations is knitted in the reinforced part' one row each of baseand reinforce ment-thread alternating with a row which only consists of the reinforcement thread, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. On the other hand, in the unreinforced hose part the base-thread alone is knitted.

Similar mesh goods are described in US. Patent 2,707,381, in which are formed, with wrap-yarn knitted in specific sections of the goods to additional rows, enlargements cup like or loop-like. By that method, because of the working manner of the circular knitting machine such as is also described in US. Patent 2,740,277, the wrap-yarn can be knitted only within the range of the wrap yarn guide avertence, so that the bulging goods surfaces are composed ofseveral sections. In seamless fine hose visible seamed places between the individual part ranges are, however, very disturbing and therefore inadmissible. Besides, through the wrap yarn are only knitted additional part-rows, so that the hose would not undergo any reinforcement. Therefore, in accordance with the invention, there are formed over the entire range of the reinforcement part a joint row of baseand reinforcement-thread and subsequently a row only of the reinforcement-thread, in which the reinforcement-thread alone is knitted back from the end-margin or" the reinforcement to the starting margin.

The FIGS. 4 and show schematically the formation row by row of a hose and of a tube in which the base thread G was continuously knitted over the entire cylinder-circumference, While the reinforcement part of the reinforcement thread S forms in each case one row together with the base thread and an intermediary row alone without the base thread.

THE FIGS. 8 and 9 show illustrations of the meshes in the reinforced and unreinforced hose part. The courses formed only from the base-thread G, because of the level schematic drawing, are twice as large as the courses formed from the reinforcement-thread 8. Actually, in the hose the courses are all equally large, so that a bulge in the reinforced part is attained, since here in this area twice as many courses as in the not-reinforced hose-part were knitted.

FIG. 8 shows the partial binding-in of the reinforcement-thread at the margin of the reinforcement, FIG. 9 the complete binding-in of the same, as is hitherto possible only on a full-fashioned hosiery machine (straight-bar knitting machine).

For the process in accordance with the invention it is immaterial whether the cylinder revolves, as described on the basis of FIG. 1 and 3, or whether it is stationary as shown in the illustration of movement according to FIG. 2, and both cam systems I and II revolve in a direction opposed to each other with equal and constant speed. To the cylinder Z, then is assigned the cylinder speed v =0, to the cam system I the speed v and to the cam system II the pseed v =v (or -2v -3v -nv In the following is described an embodiment of the invention on the basis of a circular knitting machine with (rotating) needle-cylinder, individually moved latch needles, sinkers and transfer jacks in the dial disc as well as pattern jacks for the selection of the needles, in which the cam system I is stationarily positioned while the cam system 11 revolves with double the cylinder-speed II z)- FIG. 6 shows the upper part of such a circular knitting machine in accordance with the invention, which is positioned on a machine frame of known construction, not shown in the drawings and not part of the invention and therefore not described here in detail.

The needle-cylinder Z is mounted on a further cylinder Z revolving with it, provided with jacks 4. The innersleeve 5 of the cylinder Z is driven by the cone-wheelrim 6. Spur-Wheel rim 6 is integral with the cone wheel and drives the spur-wheel 7. Coupling St? is connected to the spur-wheel 7 through a conventional clutch arrangement and is also connected to shaft 8 so as to impart rotation thereto when the clutch arrangement is in the engaged condition. Means, not shown, are provided to provide the clutch arrangement is engaged condition when knitting reinforcement and is in disen aged condition when knitting a length of hose without reinforcement. The shaft 8 passes through the frame 13 and is journaled in the sleeve of the spur-wheel 7. The shaft 8 drives, by gear 9, the ring 90 carrying the revolving cam system 11, further by the wheel 14) and the toothed rim 1%, the revolving sinker cam 16, as well as the gear 11, the ring gear 110 together with the reinforcement thread guide S positioned on it. The cam system I as well as the basethread-guide G are stationarily positioned on the frame 13. Of the needles 2 positioned at the periphery of the cylinder Z and revolving with it, those concerned with the Working-out of the reinforcement, have at least a further needle-butt 3". The needle-butt 3 works together with the cam system I and the needle-butt 3 with the cam system II. Likewise, the sinkers 14 have one butt 14' for the actuation of the base-row and a further butt 14" for the actuation of the course formed by the reinforcement-thread alone by means of the sinker cam 16 synchronously revolving with the cam system II. The other sinker cam 17 Works together with the cam system I and therefore is likewise stationarily connected with the frame 13. All revolving parts are jointly driven by the bevel gear 6 and the shaft 8, as described above. By the suitable selection of a transmission gear ratio 1:2 the sinker cam 16 revolve together with the cam system H and the reinforcement thread guide S with double the cylinder speed.

FIG. 10 represents a detail from FIG. 6 in perspective view. On the ring gear Mil, driven by shaft 8 and the gear 11, is mounted a ring 111, on which is slidably positioned the reinforcement-thread-guide S, for example developed as trailing-thread-guide. A spring 20 presses the thread guide S against the ring 111, so that a dragging of the thread-guide S takes place through the revolving gear 119 via the ring 111. By means of the bufier 21, positioned on the frame 13 together with the cam system I independent of the ring 111, which buffer may be connected and disconnected by pivotable bar 22, the reinforcement-thrcad-guide S is held back at the cam system I, and slides on the ring 111 whichturns constantly with the speed of the cam system II.

Referring again to FIG. 6, means are provided for selecting the needles to participate in knitting of the re inforced section. The lower cylinder 2,; is provided with jacks 4 mounted on the cylinder Z as the needles 2 are mounted on the cylinder Z. The jacks 4 cooperate with the needles 2, in a manner generally known in the art, to facilitate the knitting operation, and in addition perform further function as is shortly to be described.

The manner in which the above-described parts operate will be better understood from consideration of FIGS. 7, 7a, and 7b. As noted above, these figures are developments of the cylindrical parts of the knitting machine corresponding, respectively, to various steps of the operation. In each case, the development is viewed from within the cylinders Z and Z In these figures, from top to bottom, there is indicated the section A-B, the reinforcing thread S and base thread G, the position of the hooks of the needles 2, the direction of rotation of the cylinder (arrow P), the needle butts 3, the stationary cam system I which cooperates with the needle butts 3', the needle butts 3", and the cam system II which moves in the direction of the cylinder with twice the speed of the cylinder and which cooperates with the needle butts 3". These parts are mounted on or cooperate with parts mounted on the cylinder Z. Also shown in the developments, is the cylinder 2., and parts associated therewith. As noted above, mounted on the cylinder Z are the jacks 4. These jacks are provided with jack butts according to the position of the jacks on the cylinder Z All of the jacks have jack butts 41 and 42 (see FIG. 7 and the figure at the right thereof, namely, FIG. 23) and these jack butts are for control of the knitting when reinforcement thread is not knit into the fabric. The jacks in the section A-B are provided with jack butts 4 for controlling the knitting of reinforcement thread. The jack butts 4 include jack butts 4tll4l4, and these are distributed so as to provide for the knitting of the reinforcing thread to various fractions of the circumference of the knit article.

For cooperation with the jack butts 41, and 42, jack cams are provided, and for cooperation with the jack butts dill-414, jack slides are provided. The jack cams and jack slides are stationary. First there are the jack cams e and e for actuating the butts 42, and the draw-off cams c and c' for actuating the butts 41. The jack cam e and draw-off cam c cooperate with the operation at cam station I. Also cooperating with this operation (when reinforcement thread is being knit-in) are the selector means in the form of jack slides M The jack slides M include the individual slides 171 -177 4 and are at a fixed location adjacent the cylinder 2,, while at the same time being movable into and out of the operative position wherein they are set to engage the jack cams 401-414. Jack slides of the group M are placed in 'operative position when the reinforcement thread is to be knit. More particularly, the jack slides M are for cooperation with the jack butts 401-414 to provide the knitting of the base thread and the reinforcing thread in a single course. Operation of the jack slides M is further described below.

. Also in the part of FIGS. 7, 7a, and 7b corresponding to the cylinder Z there are shown jack slides for cooperation with the cam system II. These jack slides include the jack slide 2 and draw-olf slide c, and the jack slides M The operation of the jack slides corresponds with the operation of jack slides e, c and M and slides M like slides M are at a fixed position about the circumference of the cylinder Z and are movable into and out of an operative position wherein they are disposed for engagement by the jack butts 401-41 1.

At the condition shown in FIG. 7, a course of reinforcing thread is being knit at cam station II, while at cam station I, the base thread alone is being knit. In the position of FIG. 7, the jack butts 4- are idle (as will be better understood from the ensuing description), and the symmetrical array of these butts can be seen. Such an array provides a symmetrical decrease and increase of reinforcement thread width or circumferential disposition, as will be later better understood.

In FIG. 7a, the cylinder section A-B is passing the jack cams e and c and the jack slides M and base thread and reinforcement thread are being knit into a single course.

In FIG. 7b, the jack butts 41 and 42 are passing the jack earns a and c, and 401414 are passing the jack slides M and the needles 2 are being set by these elements for the action of the cam station II which will occur upon the said cam station overtaking the needles so set. This overtaking has occurred at the condition shown in FIG. 7.

The production of a seamless hose in accordance with the process of the invention takes place in the following manner:

a First the welt is knitted with the aid of the dial disc and the transfer jacks in the usual manner and transferred and subsequently the hose-length worked. For this may also be used several cam systems I with a corresponding number of base thread feeds G, so that in each cylinder rotation several courses are formed. During this time the shaft 8 is, through the coupling 80, separated from the gear 7, so that the cam system II, the sinker cam 16 and the reinforcement-thread-guide S' are in inoperative position. For this purpose the sinker cam 16, according to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, is radially displaceable positioned on the slide 161 and occupies during the knitting of the hose-length the position shown in FIG. 13. Then the sinker butts 14 travel behind the sinker cam 16, without being engaged by it. The sinkers 14 may then unhindered follow the radial movement imparted by the stationary sinker cam 17.

The slide 161 is operated through a customary cam means, for example through a steering cam 163, as it is schematically indicated in FIG. 13, or through a roller or the like, mounted on pin 162. In like manner as the sinker cam 16, the cam system H stands still and is Withdrawn from the path of the needle butts 3". This device for the withdrawal of the cam system 11 is not shown in detail in FIG. 6. ample later described in the modification of the invention It may be a known device, as for CX- o in FIG. 15. The reinforcement thread guide S is stopped through the buffer 21 (FIG. 10).

At the start of the knitting of the reinforced foot-parts of the hose, only one cam system I can be in operation. The coupling 80 is then engaged to rotate shaft 8, the sinker cam 16 drawn-back and the cam system H advanced into the path of the needle-butts 3", so that the knitting process in accordance with the invention may be carried out.

Referring to FIG. 7, and in particular to the action at the cam station II, the jack butts .2 engage the jack cams e whereupon the needles 2 are raised to just below the level a where the needle butts 3' are at a level for actuation by the cam f of cam station I. The needle butts 3' pass through the cam station I to cast-01f b and knitting in the usual manner and without reinforcement is performed. The jack slides M do not operate, as the jacks 4 at the section of the cylinder under consideration have no jack butts for cooperation with the slides M The jack cam e and draw-off 0, however, cooperate respectively with the jack butts 42 and 41 to provide the needles 2 in position for the knitting at cam station I.

The start of the knitting of the reinforced foot-parts in the hose is indicated in FIG. 7a. The cam system H is switched-on and revolves with double thecylinder speed. Since it is just outside of the K1? Sector of the needlecylinder Z, where the needles 2 have no butts 3", the cam system H revolves freely at first, until it has overtaken the needles 2 with butts 3" revolving with the cylinder Z (FIG. 7). During rotation of the cam system 11 along the cylinder Z outside of sector E, the threadguide for the reinforcement-thread S is held stationary by the bufier 21 (FIG. 10), beside the thread-guide for the base-thread G, as shown in FIG. 7a. Base-thread G and reinforcement-thread S now knit with the stationary cam system I the course which is formed jointly by the basethread and reinforcement-thread. Through the jack butt 42 of the jacks 4 positioned under the needles. in the cylinder Z.,, and the cam f, all needles 2 are lifted so high that they grasp the base-thread G and subsequently pass through thecam system I. The jacks 4 positioned in the cylinder-sector XE for the knitting of the reinforced hose parts have additional jack butts 401-414 which in each case cooperate with the jack slides M to simultaneously knit the reinforcing threads.

The jack slides M as noted above, are at a stationary position with respect to the circumference of the cylinder and are movable between a butt engaging position and an inoperative or retracted position. The jack slides M which includes the jack slides 771 -111 can be provided so that they are individually selectively movable into and out of the retracted position in suitable time sequence with respect to cylinder rotation to cooperate with the jack butts 401-414 to provide a desired pattern for the reinforcement thread. As is discussed hereinafter, the operation of the jack slides as just described can be provided by means known in the art.

To facilitate understanding of the operation, jack slides in the operative position are shown in full lines, whereas jack slides in the retracted or inoperative position are shown in dashed lines. Thus, in FIG. 7a, of the jack slides M the slide m is in the operative position and slides m m are in the inoperative position. For this condition, jacks 4 having jack butts 401 (and it will be observed that only some of the jacks 4 have jack butts 401) are raised by response to cooperation of the jack butt 401 and the slide m to a level higher than that corre-' sponding to the cooperation of the jack butts 42 and cam e, namely so that the needles 2 responding to such action are raised to above the level a. By reason of this raising of the needles 2, the needles grasp not only the base thread G but the reinforcement thread S as well. At this phase of the operation, the reinforcement thread guide S is stationaryjust behind the base thread guide G and hence the reinforcement thread is available for the knit ting. The knitting operation at station I is then performed in the usual manner, but the course section being knit includes the two threads.

In FIG. 7b the needles 2, selected for the reinforcement, have just finished the course formed by the baseand reinforcement-thread. The reinforcement-thread-guide S remains for a time at the cam system I, until it is overtaken by the cam system II at which time it moves on with the cam station II. Since only the jack slide m is in operative position, the needles 2 whose jacks do not possess any jack butt 401, are not brought to above the level a, and therefore cannot catch the reinforcementthread S, so that now at station I, only the base thread is being knit.

After the needles 2 in the cam system I have passed through the cast-off position b, they pass through a station where there is positioned jack cam e, draw-01f cam c and the jack slides M At this station, the needles 2 are positioned for the course, which is formed by the reinforcement-thread alone by means of the revolving cam system II. The operation of the jack slides, etc. at the station including slides M is similar to that occurring at the station including slides M The needles selected are brought to a level a and remain there, until they are withdrawn by the cam system II (FIG. 7), which acts on the butts 3" of the needles 2, overtaking the cylinder in the sector E3 The operations indicated in'FIG. 7 fit in with those shown in FIG. 7b.

The cylinder-sector E, in whose range the reinforcement is worked, has passed the stationary cam system I and also stationary jack-slides M and M New at the cam system I the base-thread alone is knitted. The cam system II revolving with double the speed of the cylinder has overtaken the butts 3" of the needles 2 and in passing the cam system I has taken with it the reinforcement thread guide S (FIG. 7). At the moment the cam system II passes the stationary cam system I, the buffer 21 (FIG. 10) is. drawn-back for a short span of time through the pivoted lever 22, so that the thread-guide for the reinforcement thread S, sliding up to now on the turning ring 111, is gripped by the pressure of the spring 20 and revolves with the cam system H.

The buffer 21 is immediately again swung into its original position as shown in FIG. 10, so that the threadguide for the reinforcement-thread S is again stopped against the buffer 21 after one revolution, while the cam system II revolves alone with constant speed v The needles which have not been brought into the clearing position a (to above the level a) by means of the jack slides M are withdrawn by the slope d of the cam 98 (at cam system II), before they can pick up the reinforcement-thread S. The selected needles 2 in the clearing position a catch the reinforcement-thread S and knit it in the cam system II to the course formed by the reinforcement thread. Thereupon the operation cycle repeats, as described in connection with FIG. 7a, in order to knit further courses with partial reinforcement. According to which of the jack slides m m and which of the jack slides m m' is actuated, the width of the reinforcement is varied.

The actuation of the selector cams or jack slides M and M takes place through a generally known pattern switching device, such as is shown for example in the US. Patents 2,208,698 or 2,146,647 for a similar purpose. This switching device is not the subject of the invention and is therefore not more completely described.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show in connection with FIG. 6 the sinker cams 16 and 17 as well as the positioning of the sinkers 14 with the sinker butts 14' and 14 in schematic plan view. From these figures may also be seen the position in each case of the sinker cam 16 revolving with the cam system H, with reference to the stationary sinker cam 17 which acts together with the stationary cam system It I, during the working phases of the process in accordance with the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 7a.

The sinkers in the sector A B have additional butts 14", which correspond to the needle butts 3" and are operated by the revolving sinker cam 16 in knitting the courses formed alone by the reinforcement thread. All sinkers over the entire cylinder-circumference have butts 14, which correspond to the needle butts 3' and are operated through the stationary sinker cam 17. The position of the sinkers in FIG. 11 corresponds to the needle position in FIG. 7a, likewise FIG. 12 corresponds to the FIG. 7, wherein the cam system I together with the sinker cam 17 is stationarily positioned, while the cam system II together with the sinker cam 16 revolves at double the speed of the cylinder and of the sector E. The sinker cam 16 is radially displaceably seated in accordance with FIGS. 11 and 12 on a slide 161, in order to be able to stop the sinker cam 16 during the knitting of the hose length, as well as to stop the cam system II, as shown in FIG. 13.

At the start of the knitting of the reinforced hose part, as described in FIG. 7a, the sinker cam 16 occupies the position shown in FIG. 11, i.e., it revolves just as the cam system II with the speed v without operating the sinkers 14, until after the first revolution it has overtaken the sinkers 14 with butts 14" revolving with the cylinder Z with the speed v v In FIG. 12 is shown the operation in accordance with FIG. 7, the sinker cam 17 works together with the stationary cam system I, where now the base thread alone is being knitted, While the sinker cam 1'6 revolving and acting together with the cam system II, participates in the knitting of the reinforcement thread S in the course started by the reinforcement thread.

After finish of the knitting of the reinforced hose parts, the coupling (FIG. 6) is again disengaged, so that the revolving parts are stopped and the cam system II as well as the sinker cam 16 inactivated, as this takes place during the production of the hose-length and the welt and has already been described above.

At a speed of revolution of the cam system for the reinforcement thread, which corresponds to double the cylinder rotating speed, with the device described may be extended the width of the reinforced part in the maximum case over half the cylinder circumference. This is only theoretically possible, since at the meeting of the cam system II for the reinforcement thread with the cam system I for the base-and reinforcement-thread, the cam systems can never simultaneously act upon the same needles, in order to prevent a damage to the needles and knitting defects. Thus, the possible length of the cylindersector E in which the reinforcement may be Worked, may be calculated from the following relationship: Maximal reinforcement width:

AB:cylinder-circumference times 1) minus width of cam system v =cylinder rotation speed v =speed of revolution of the cam system II From this it is evident that upon increase of the cam system revolution speed the reinforcement width decreases, thus, for example, at triple revolution speed (v =3v it amounts to less than one-third of the cylinder circumference. Since, however, the necessary cam system width requires a considerable portion of the cylinder circumference in small cylinder diameters, as they are used in hose circular knitting-machines, the reinforcement Width obtained with the device described does not always suifice.

In accordance with a further characteristic of the invention an essential improvement of the previously described process in accordance with the invention can be obtained in which for the obtaining of a still greater reinforcement width the cam system II revolves for the reinforceates ear ment thread with the multiple cylinder-rotation-speed v and with the same direction of rotation as the cylinder Z, and periodically is switched on only during one of these revolutions per cylinder-rotation for the knitting backwards of the reinforcement thread alone, wherein the cam system I for the baseand reinforcement-thread is arranged stationary.

To carry out this changed operation used is made of a coupling capable of being switched on and off, for the periodic pick up of the thread-guide for the reinforcement-thread. Additionally is provided a cam-ring with sloping surfaces at its underside, which is mounted on a second ring, positioned stationary and coaxially with the cylinder and provided with corresponding sloping surfaces on its upperside, so that the first mentioned camring is operable in a small angle and displaceably positioned coaxially to the cylinder, for the operation of the revolving cam system II for the reinforcement thread. Another similar pair of cam-rings serves for the operation of the coupling for the pick up of the thread-guide for the reinforcement-thread. The sinker cam revolving with the cam system II for the reinforcement-thread is actuated by a stationary ring coaxial with the cylinder, which has two steering-latches pivotable in and out, independently of one another. Thus the cam system II revolves with multiple cylinder-rotation-speed, actually a repeated meeting of the two cam systems I and II takes place for each cylinder rotation, but since the revolving cam system II is always connected only during one revolution per cylinder-rotation, in each case is to be considered for the insertion of the needles for knitting the reinforced part, only one meeting, in which the needles for knitting the reinforced part may not be operated simultaneously through both cam systems I and II. In accordance with the changed operation then results the following relationship between the speed of revolution VII of the cam system II for the reinforcement thread, the cylinder-rotation speed V and the maximum reinforcement width E3:

AB cylinder circumference times (1; minus cam system width From this it is evident that upon increase of the cam system revolution speed v the reinforcement width may be increased and, for example, with four-fold cam system revolution speed as against the cylinder-speed (v =4v the reinforcement-width IE may be increased up to threequarters of the cylinder-circumference minus the cam system width. However, in practice it has proved favorable to let the cam system II for the reinforcement thread rotate with the three times the cylinder rotation speed (v ==3v Therefore, in the following is described in detail an example of operation with three times cylinderrotation-speed of the cam system 11 for the reinforcement thread on the basis of FIGS. 14 to 21.

In FIG. 14 is shown in section the complete arrangement of the upper part of a circular knitting machine, namely in the form changed as compared with that described in FIG. 6.

The cylinder is composed, as already described in FIG. 6, of the needle cylinder Z for the needles 2 and a subcylinder 2., for the jacks 4 and is mounted on the shaft 5 of the bevel gear 6, by which it is driven. The gear 6 has a spur gear rim 6' which engages with the gear 7 to drive shaft 8. The gear 7 is rotatable on the shaft 8 with a sleeve 81 and is coupled to the shaft 8 by a coupling clutch 80. However, the shaft 8 is driven, in this instance, with a gear ratio 1:3, and carries at its upper part the gear 9 to drive the revolving cam system II for the reinforcement thread by the ring gear 90; also a gear 10, which engages a ring gear 100 for rotating sinker cam 16 for the reinforcement thread; and another gear 11, which drives, by a ring gear 110 'a clutch 27, 28 for en gagement with reinforcement thread guide S. The ma- 12 chine frame has a machine table 13, and a base 131, and a cylinder 134, while on the base 131 is mounted an upper frame 132 to receive the machine-head upper part and a ring cam 133 with the stationary cam system I for the base and reinforcement thread.

FIG. 15 shows in broken section the revolving cam system II for the reinforcement thread. The ring gear is, as may be seen in FIG. 14, seated in the lower carrier-frame 131. To this ring gear 90 is attached the cam box 92 of the cam system H. In the cam box 2 is a slide 91, positioned radially displaceable to the cylinder. The cam parts 97 and 98, which actuate the needle butts 3", are attached to slide 91 and may thus be brought, by a connecting ring 31, into engagement and out of engagement with the needle butts 3". The lower connecting ring 30 has at its upper face corresponding sloping surfaces 360' which, in the twisting of the upper connect ing ring 31', engaging at its shoulder 311', support themselves by an angle on the slanting surfaces 310' of the connecting ring 31' and thus displace upward the connecting ring 31 axially to the cylinder. On this connecting ring 31 drags the bolt 94 revolving with the cam system II, which is attached at a bell crank 93. Through the axial displacement of the connecting ring 31' the bolt 9-1 is pressed up, and the bell crank 93, pivoted on the cam box 92 by bolt 96, acts upon the pin 95 attached on the slide 91. The slide 91 is pressed thus outward and cam system II switched off.

The actuation of the cam system II takes place during the knitting of the reinforced part'of the hose, revolving with the triple cylinder-rotation-speed at each third revolution, in order to knit back the reinforcement thread alone from the end marginof the reinforcement to the starting margin.

The periodic operation of the connecting ring 31' and the accompanying switching-on and switching-off of the cam system II takes place through conventional control means for example, through a revolving cam-disc, acting upon transmission bars, to engage at the shoulder 311 of the connecting ring 31'. In the position shown in FIG. 15 of the connecting ring 31 the cam system II is switched-on. v

In a similar manner is operated the coupling for the picking'up of the thread-guide S for the reinforcement thread (FIGS. 14 and 21). This coupling consists of a clutch 28 with a lining 27 and is connected by means of several sockets 29 with the gear 110. In each carrier socket 29 is a coil spring 291 directed at the clutch plate 28, presses on the plunger 292 and thus presses the covering 27, with the clutch switched-on, flexibly against the thread guide carrier ring 25. The connecting of the clutch takes place through cam plates 31 and 30, in which the connecting ring 30 is stationarily mounted at the guide cylinder 111, while the connecting ring 31 is rotatable through a specific angle and axially displaceable by the slanting surfaces 300 and 310 facing one another. The guide cylinder 111' is supported by a carrier-ring 131' on the machine frame 132. The reinforcement thread guide S is attached at a carrier-arm 20, screwed-fast on a block 24 on thread-gnide-carrier-ring 25. By means of the ball bearing 113 the thread-guide-bearer-ring 25 is rotatable on the stationary guide-ring 112, attached to the guide-cylinder 111' and is guided by angle-pieces 26. A buffer 23 takes the impact at the stopping of the reinforcement-thread-guide S through the buffer 21 (FIG. 10) beside the thread-guide for the base-thread G, as shown in FIG. 7a, when the reinforcement-thread is knitted together with the base-thread by the stationary cam system I.

By the pair of gears 11 and the clutch plate 28 is rotated constantly at the same speed as the cam system II. Through the connecting bars 32 engaging at the shoulder 311 connecting ring 31 is turned through a specific angle and the clutch 27, 28 is pressed against the thread guide carrier ring 25 for the actuation of the re- 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE CIRCULAR KNITTING OF PARTIALLY REINFORCED HOSIERY, SUCH AS HOSE HAVING AT LEAST ONE OF A REINFORCED HEEL, TOE, SOLE, AND THE LIKE, BY MEANS OF AN ENDLESS REINFORCEMENT THREAD IN ADDITION TO A BASE THREAD WHICH COMPRISES JOINTLY KNITTING THE BASE THREAD FOR THE HOSIERY AND THE ENDLESS REINFORCMENT THREAD ALONG THE DESIRED REINFORCEMENT PORTION OF ONE COURSE FROM THE STARTING EDGE OF SAID REINFORCEMENT PORTION, CONTINUING THE KNITTING OF THE BASE THREAD ALONE FROM THE TERMINAL EDGE OF SAID REINFORCEMENT PORTION IN FORWARD DIRECTION AROUND TO THE STARTING EDGE OF SAID REINFORCEMENT PORTION TO COMPLETE THE COURSE, WHILE KNITTING THE ENDLESS REINFORCEMENT THREAD ALONE IN A NEXT INTERMEDIATE REINFORCEMENT THREAD COURSE IN REVERSE DIRECTION BACK TO THE STARTING EDGE OF SAID REINFORCEMENT PORTION, AND REPEATING THE CYCLE, WHEREBY HOSIERY IS KNITTED HAVING A REINFORCED PORTION ALTERNATELY CONTAINING A COURSE OF JOINTLY KNITTED BASE AND REINFORCEMENT THREADS AND AN INTERMEDIATE COURSE OF SEPARATELY KNITTED REINFORCEMENT THREAD. 